DAY 3: Punahou/Leilehua, ‘Iolani/Baldwin in state softball semis

Teams like Punahou have been celebrating home runs all tournament long with 27 hit in eight games, blowing away the previous state-tournament record. Photo by Andrew Lee/Special to the Star-Advertiser.

After a wild quarterfinal round, only No. 2 seed Punahou remains of the four league champions in the Datahouse/HHSAA Softball State Championships in Division I.

The Buffanblu and Leilehua meet in a rematch of last year’s state final in the first game, followed by MIL runner-up Baldwin and ILH runner-up ‘Iolani.

The one exception is Baldwin junior Aliya Harmon, who has allowed just two runs in complete-game wins over both Maryknoll and previously undefeated Campbell, the top-seeded OIA champion who has won three of the last four state titles.

The Bears are in the semifinals for the first time since 2009 and looking for their first finals appearance since winning it all in 2007.

Castillo adds her second blast of the game with two outs in the seventh but that’s it. ‘Iolani into the final for first time since 2000.

BOT 5:Aleia Agbayani doubles with one out and scores on a sacrifice fly to make it 10-7. Agbayani with four runs scored in the game.

TOP 5: WE GOT A BALLGAME. The first four batters reach base with Dallas Castillo pulling a pitch over the fence in right-center for a grand slam. Third salami in the tournament. 9-7 is the lead now. ‘Iolani will make a pitching change bringing in Ailana Agbayani for her sister, Aleia.

BOT 4: A two-run homer by freshman Allie Capello and Barrett doubles and scores on a grounder to make it 9-3.

The Bears closed to 6-3 in the top of the fourth inning and had the bases loaded with one out for catcher Saree-Ann Kekahuna, who had homered twice in the tournament already. Aleia Agbayani, starting her second game for the Raiders, got Kekahuna to hit into a fielder’s choice at the plate and then a pop out to leave the bases loaded.

BOT 2:Kalena Markham with a two-out, two-run double over the head of the rightfielder and it’s 6-1 Raiders. Baldwin brought in Kacey Sakamoto to pitch to start the inning.

BOT 1:Kai Barrett with a two-run single to put ‘Iolani ahead 2-1. Barrett scores on an RBI groundout by Tori Maeda and the Raiders have already scored more runs off Aliya Harmon than Harmon had given up in complete game wins over Maryknoll and Campbell. A dropped ball in center allows another ‘Iolani run to score. Second error in the inning by Baldwin, who looks a little rattled early.

TOP 1:LB Kahahawai-Kekona drills the first pitch of the game to center for a single and gets to third after the ball gets past the centerfielder. Saree-Ann Kekahuna with an infield single off the glove of pitcher Aleia Agbayani to drive in the first run.

TOP 6: Saiki with an RBI single to make it 12-4 but two deep fly balls by Punahou are caught short of the wall.

BOT 4: Leilehua adds a run on Alyssa Abe‘s sacrifice fly to center to score Kiana Domingo, who led off with a base hit. Kahana-Travis drives in her fourth run of the game on a single to left to make it 12-3.

TOP 4:Bri Alejo, who took over on the mound with two outs in the first inning, helps herself at the plate with a two-out RBI single to right. 10-3 and runners on the corners for D’Asha Saiki. Saiki up 3-1 in the count but flies out to left. Big out for Leilehua.

BOT 2: The Mules have hit for the cycle in home runs by the second inning. A two-run shot by Lovey Kepaa makes it 10-2 and gives the Mules a solo, two-run, three-run and grand-slam home run already.

TOP 2: After opening the game with a base hit before getting stranded at third, Punahou’s Maya Matsubara puts the Buffanblu on the board with a two-out, two-run single to left. Punahou had been 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position prior to Matsubara’s second hit.

BOT 1: Cleanup hitter Alana Jarra-Parker gets the night started with a three-run homer to right-center. Second straight game with a homer for Jarra-Parker, who had six RBIs in the win over Lahainaluna in the quarterfinals. Senior Kawena Kahana-Travis, who hadn’t homered all season, did so in her last two at-bats on Thursday and just drilled a grand slam out to left. Now a solo homer by Gianna Araki and it’s 8-0. The Mules have scored 22 runs in the first inning in this tournament (three games). Leilehua has batted around in the order four times in its last eight innings.

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